By Hilderbran H.B. No. 2013 76R6363 JRD-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the regulation of bottled or vended water. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Health and Safety Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Chapter 441 to read as follows: 1-6 CHAPTER 441. REGULATION OF BOTTLED AND VENDED DRINKING WATER 1-7 Sec. 441.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "department" 1-8 means the Texas Department of Health. 1-9 Sec. 441.002. CERTIFICATION OF BOTTLED AND VENDED WATER 1-10 OPERATORS. (a) A bottled or vended water operator may not furnish 1-11 bottled or vended water to the public or for distribution to the 1-12 public unless the bottled or vended water operator holds a 1-13 certificate of competency under this chapter. A person may not 1-14 furnish bottled or vended water to the public or for distribution 1-15 to the public unless the processing, bottling, and distribution of 1-16 the bottled or vended water are performed by or under the 1-17 supervision of a bottled or vended water operator who holds a 1-18 certificate of competency under this chapter. 1-19 (b) To obtain or renew a certificate an applicant must pay 1-20 the department a $25 fee. 1-21 (c) On receipt of the required fee, the department shall 1-22 provide for the testing of the applicant and issue a certificate of 1-23 competency to the applicant if the applicant passes the test. 1-24 Sec. 441.003. RULES. The department may adopt rules that 2-1 are necessary to implement this chapter that promote the public 2-2 health and safety. The rules may include rules relating to 2-3 certificate suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action 2-4 and relating to certificate renewal. 2-5 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-6 (b) Chapter 441, Health and Safety Code, as added by this 2-7 Act, does not apply to bottled or vended water that is produced 2-8 before December 1, 1999. 2-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.